Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 2, 13- 18
When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
Out of Egypt I called my son.
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.
Follow God
1. Flee. Herod was about 33 years old when he became king. Curiously, the same age when Jesus was crucified: another type of king assumes another type of reign. This teaches me that we have to flee from people who want to destroy us, from people who want to harm us because they believe our presence threatens their power or for the simple fact that they’re jealous. You must learn that you don’t have to face everything; at times you have to know how to escape from those who aren’t willing to change and only want to rule, even to rule and manage your life. I must warn you that you’ll also be at risk many times because there are people who don’t like the way you are or the way you act or because your life reveals their obsession for power or their cruelty. Fleeing is also for the prudent and the brave, because there’s a time for everything, but it’s also important to make it clear that one does not flee from people, but to develop one’s life and one’s mission.
2. He ordered the murder. People who are obsessed with power tend to show two characteristics: their desire for permanence and feeling threatened by others. Many people who have authority or power will constantly seek their continuity and can’t see their life without the power they hold. And we see this in the social and political spheres, and even in the church. It’s difficult to remove these people because they’re already entrenched in an obsessive and even abusive power. That’s why they see everything new as a threat. In life you might also meet people who don’t want to let you go because they consider you part of their position of power. It’s no longer love, but obsession; they no longer act with kindness, but imposing themselves on you; they no longer value you, but belittle you; they no longer support you, but subdue you. Always ask God for help to escape from this type of people who, when they feel you’re no longer of any use to them, cut off your head with their comments and criticism, and even try to make you look bad in front of others.
3. Kill. There are different ways of killing. One is through words and comments, which destroy other people’s image in society. Another way of killing is taking away somebody else’s identity and making him or her totally dependent on you. Yet another way of killing is humiliating a person in public, considering that you’re lord and master, perhaps because you’re the breadwinner, or because you’re arrogant and you think you can be the administrator of everyone’s life. Don’t let anyone kill your life; learn to escape from people who do not contribute anything to your life and your lifestyle.
Always remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
